Mag Bay Jan 2017 Trip Report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

rossman · 05-20-2017, 03:08 PM

Hey Brew,did that Manta Ray bite something or was he snagged?

CON KSO · 05-22-2017, 06:55 AM

Please let there be more, please let there be more....

Mahigeer · 05-22-2017, 07:39 AM

What a great trip. Thanks for sharing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossman

Hey Brew, did that Manta Ray bite something or was he snagged?

I was thinking the same:
“As filter feeders, manta rays consume large quantities of zooplankton in the form of shrimp, krill and planktonic crabs…” Wikipedia.

brew · 05-29-2017, 04:32 PM

Yes, the manta ray was snagged in the wing (3" swim bait).

CON KSO · 05-29-2017, 05:56 PM

I'm in Puerto Lopez Mateos right now- using internet from Hotel Refugio - did you guys drive out on the road to Playa Santa Elena? Gonna give that a shot tomorrow. Not many restaurants open this time of the year- I guess there are more during whale watching season. Lots of water moving around out there right now- kinda intimidating actually.

brew · 05-29-2017, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CON KSO

I'm in Puerto Lopez Mateos right now- using internet from Hotel Refugio - did you guys drive out on the road to Playa Santa Elena? Gonna give that a shot tomorrow. Not many restaurants open this time of the year- I guess there are more during whale watching season. Lots of water moving around out there right now- kinda intimidating actually.

Yes, I heard at times the water moves a lot! We were there during very mild tides, but even we were prepared to wait it out if we had to (headlamps, windbreakers, and food/water)

I'm not sure where Playa Santa Elena is, but we were about 7 miles north of town (dirt road). There is a big channel that is man made heading inland. I would recommend trying straight out from there and possibly a little north. Good luck. Maybe just hire a panga if it's too gnarly for a yak.

CON KSO · 05-29-2017, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the tip- I think I know where that canal is -I was on the way there but it was getting late and I didn't feel like airing down (lots of washboard thru the section that looks like town dump) so I flipped it around and am here in town now. Btw hotel Refugio isn't bad 350pesos for a single room and the owner (named Refugio) has a fenced lot across the street big enough to park my truck and trailer with PA14 on it. I'm solo right now so not sure if I feel up for paddling by myself- currents look heavy (just read your account of fighting "the river" that's what it looks like now even at the Embarcadero in town) - loving your report- thanks for taking the time to post it.

Mahigeer · 05-30-2017, 06:28 AM

Thank you for your post.

Great fishing spots all around.

Perhaps later you can post information about where to stay, market, restaurant and other essential travel information.

When is the best time of the year to go?

Baja_Traveler · 05-30-2017, 06:50 AM

What an awesome report - cant wait to get down there with Mako Bob and the Solo skiffs this winter. Obviously high current conditions will not be an issue for us.

Just curious if you noticed any cell reception in town? Just wondering if cell phone communication via TelCell is even possible down there. That would be a bonus.

Just loving these reports - and picking up some valuable info. Never thought about the night time dew, going to have to bring the jungle hammock with its rain fly so I don't wake up soaking wet - especially if the fog rolls in.

brew · 05-29-2017, 06:00 PM

Ok. Day whatever (2nd in Mag Bay)...

Kitchen shack visitor

There was a ton of dew in the mornings even thought the weather was very mild. 60-80F

Eggs and tangerines for breakfast and loaded up on water and snacks for the day.

Everybody had a couple of confidence baits from yesterday and conditions were ridiculous, so we were pumped to get out there again.

Our rigs.

brew · 05-29-2017, 06:49 PM

The silence was cool. You had to look behind at the wake to be able to tell if you were moving or not.

If the smallest island on the horizon was a gunsight, it would be aimed at the main boca feeding the bay. Just for an overall view of where we were at.

Looks like a good starring point to me.

Leo with a green jack. Like all jacks these things fight hard.

Jeff with a nicer corvina

I noticed some disturbances in the distance and hauled butt over there. Got a few good casts right through the middle with no luck. Tried a couple of different lures. Slow roll, burning it in, huh still nada. Turned around and started to head back and Bam.

Needlefish. Definitely the culprit. Tried for another but it was not to be

Species ID help?

First broomtail in Mag Bay. Just a baby really, but they are great fun on lightbtackle. That's a 5" crocodile just for size perspective. Maybe 5-6lbs?

Cool shot of one of many corvina for the day?

Giant lizard fish while trolling the main channel.

There was one spot that was nonstop cookie cutter spotties. All small. ~10-11"ers

Had to fight the current in today and it was not easy. I can see where other times of the year with larger tidal swings you might be screwed. We were hugging the edges of the "river" just to make forward progress and peddling pretty hard. Jeff's kayak is a beast and I thought we may have to tow him, or just wait it out, but he actually made it in before us.

Cool whale skeleton

We also had to go around some sand bars / shallow spots due to the low tide. Here is Leo walking the last 50yds or so in about 6" or water. It was a long day on the water and I think we all set records on mileage at over 25mi.

Another good day!

brew · 05-29-2017, 07:54 PM

Woke up to fog the next morning.

Some artwork from the nighttime creepy crawlies.

I think I had a protein shake, an energy drink, and some other random stuff for breakfast. Also made a second layer of padding for my seat out of some closed cell sleeping pad foam. It worked pretty well too.

No showers down here and we were getting pretty crusty!

Today we headed South. Probably went a mile or so before we hit some of the gps spots we typed in the night before.

Right away Jeff on board with another new species. We didn't know what these were, but I have since figured out they are mangrove jacks.

Got one for myself

Corvina action shot

Mid morning we found a spot that was as wide open as I've ever seen. We were catching Jacks, Corvina, Pompano, And SBB every cast. We were all using different lures, and all getting bit. This lasted for about an hour until the water movement stopped. Even then it only took 3-4 casts to get one. The fish were all avaerage size, so I didn't get a lot of pics. We will all remember this spot for a long time. I also have the GPS coordinates for the highest bidder (j/k I will give them to MakoBob before the trip along with others for the turnoff, camp, etc)

A couple pics of the spot once the current had slowed.

We let the current lead us down and around the corner catching fish the whole way. This was definitely the best day I have ever had kayak fishing. Eventually we crossed to another island and it was full of frigates. I have never seen this many in one place, it must be a mating area or something. I'm not a birder, but got some good shots

Male and female

Stretched out

Ok back to fishing... it continued to be good.

A better size mangrove jack

We ended up finding a Chanel with some bigger corvina. I think this is my biggest of the trip. If so, it was 27"

Look closely... careful of those two (or three!) treble hook hardbaits. They don't mix well with green fish. We first had to cut the whole hook from the jig (already done before this pic), in order to stop the emergency of a flopping fish still on the other treble! Then pushed it through as far as possible in order to cut it below the barb and back it out.

Another nice one. Look at the size of that tail!

Searching for the next spot

We got back in around dark again and headed off to town for dinner with delirious, tired, happy grins.

We made some phone calls at the restaurant and had another great meal. The next morning we left north giving ourselves enough time to stop and fish one more day at whatever spot we chose.

05-20-2017, 03:08 PM	#1
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Hey Brew,did that Manta Ray bite something or was he snagged? __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

05-22-2017, 06:55 AM	#2
CON KSO Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 83	Please let there be more, please let there be more....

05-29-2017, 04:32 PM	#4
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	Yes, the manta ray was snagged in the wing (3" swim bait).

05-29-2017, 05:56 PM	#5
CON KSO Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 83	I'm in Puerto Lopez Mateos right now- using internet from Hotel Refugio - did you guys drive out on the road to Playa Santa Elena? Gonna give that a shot tomorrow. Not many restaurants open this time of the year- I guess there are more during whale watching season. Lots of water moving around out there right now- kinda intimidating actually.

05-29-2017, 08:28 PM	#7
CON KSO Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 83	Thanks for the tip- I think I know where that canal is -I was on the way there but it was getting late and I didn't feel like airing down (lots of washboard thru the section that looks like town dump) so I flipped it around and am here in town now. Btw hotel Refugio isn't bad 350pesos for a single room and the owner (named Refugio) has a fenced lot across the street big enough to park my truck and trailer with PA14 on it. I'm solo right now so not sure if I feel up for paddling by myself- currents look heavy (just read your account of fighting "the river" that's what it looks like now even at the Embarcadero in town) - loving your report- thanks for taking the time to post it.

05-30-2017, 06:28 AM	#8
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	Thank you for your post. Great fishing spots all around. Perhaps later you can post information about where to stay, market, restaurant and other essential travel information. When is the best time of the year to go?

05-30-2017, 06:50 AM	#9
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	What an awesome report - cant wait to get down there with Mako Bob and the Solo skiffs this winter. Obviously high current conditions will not be an issue for us. Just curious if you noticed any cell reception in town? Just wondering if cell phone communication via TelCell is even possible down there. That would be a bonus. Just loving these reports - and picking up some valuable info. Never thought about the night time dew, going to have to bring the jungle hammock with its rain fly so I don't wake up soaking wet - especially if the fog rolls in.

05-29-2017, 06:00 PM	#10
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	Ok. Day whatever (2nd in Mag Bay)... Kitchen shack visitor There was a ton of dew in the mornings even thought the weather was very mild. 60-80F Eggs and tangerines for breakfast and loaded up on water and snacks for the day. Everybody had a couple of confidence baits from yesterday and conditions were ridiculous, so we were pumped to get out there again. Our rigs.

05-29-2017, 06:49 PM	#11
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	The silence was cool. You had to look behind at the wake to be able to tell if you were moving or not. If the smallest island on the horizon was a gunsight, it would be aimed at the main boca feeding the bay. Just for an overall view of where we were at. Looks like a good starring point to me. Leo with a green jack. Like all jacks these things fight hard. Jeff with a nicer corvina I noticed some disturbances in the distance and hauled butt over there. Got a few good casts right through the middle with no luck. Tried a couple of different lures. Slow roll, burning it in, huh still nada. Turned around and started to head back and Bam. Needlefish. Definitely the culprit. Tried for another but it was not to be Species ID help? First broomtail in Mag Bay. Just a baby really, but they are great fun on lightbtackle. That's a 5" crocodile just for size perspective. Maybe 5-6lbs? Cool shot of one of many corvina for the day? Giant lizard fish while trolling the main channel. There was one spot that was nonstop cookie cutter spotties. All small. ~10-11"ers Had to fight the current in today and it was not easy. I can see where other times of the year with larger tidal swings you might be screwed. We were hugging the edges of the "river" just to make forward progress and peddling pretty hard. Jeff's kayak is a beast and I thought we may have to tow him, or just wait it out, but he actually made it in before us. Cool whale skeleton We also had to go around some sand bars / shallow spots due to the low tide. Here is Leo walking the last 50yds or so in about 6" or water. It was a long day on the water and I think we all set records on mileage at over 25mi. Another good day!

05-29-2017, 07:54 PM	#12
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	Woke up to fog the next morning. Some artwork from the nighttime creepy crawlies. I think I had a protein shake, an energy drink, and some other random stuff for breakfast. Also made a second layer of padding for my seat out of some closed cell sleeping pad foam. It worked pretty well too. No showers down here and we were getting pretty crusty! Today we headed South. Probably went a mile or so before we hit some of the gps spots we typed in the night before. Right away Jeff on board with another new species. We didn't know what these were, but I have since figured out they are mangrove jacks. Got one for myself Corvina action shot Mid morning we found a spot that was as wide open as I've ever seen. We were catching Jacks, Corvina, Pompano, And SBB every cast. We were all using different lures, and all getting bit. This lasted for about an hour until the water movement stopped. Even then it only took 3-4 casts to get one. The fish were all avaerage size, so I didn't get a lot of pics. We will all remember this spot for a long time. I also have the GPS coordinates for the highest bidder (j/k I will give them to MakoBob before the trip along with others for the turnoff, camp, etc) A couple pics of the spot once the current had slowed. We let the current lead us down and around the corner catching fish the whole way. This was definitely the best day I have ever had kayak fishing. Eventually we crossed to another island and it was full of frigates. I have never seen this many in one place, it must be a mating area or something. I'm not a birder, but got some good shots Male and female Stretched out Ok back to fishing... it continued to be good. A better size mangrove jack We ended up finding a Chanel with some bigger corvina. I think this is my biggest of the trip. If so, it was 27" Look closely... careful of those two (or three!) treble hook hardbaits. They don't mix well with green fish. We first had to cut the whole hook from the jig (already done before this pic), in order to stop the emergency of a flopping fish still on the other treble! Then pushed it through as far as possible in order to cut it below the barb and back it out. Another nice one. Look at the size of that tail! Searching for the next spot We got back in around dark again and headed off to town for dinner with delirious, tired, happy grins. We made some phone calls at the restaurant and had another great meal. The next morning we left north giving ourselves enough time to stop and fish one more day at whatever spot we chose.